vinicunca rainbow mountain

latin america

peru

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Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain is a geological wonder for some and a spiritual place of worship for others.

The famous Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain located in the Ausangate region sits about 100 km southeast of Cusco and is home to a large llama and alpaca herding community. This centuries-old community is among one of the few remaining pastoralist societies in the world.

The Ausangate area has four major geological features which include, the Andean uplift, the hanging glaciers and glacial erosional valleys, the Permian formation and, limestone forests.

WHY WE LOVEVinicunca rainbow mountain

This magnificent piece of land is covered in striking colours that remind you of earth’s power, greatness, and impressive age. The breathtaking landscapes gives us a view into the millions of years that have passed and caused the magnificent technicoloured strata.

Peru’s Rainbow Mountain is still somewhat ‘new’ to the modern world. It was first discovered by nonlocals in 2015 and received its first official tour back in 2016, despite its incredible size and stunning colours the mountain had managed to remain a local secret. This is not only fascinating but beneficial to travel adventures. The Rainbow Mountain of Peru has yet to be developed into a major tourism destination. Its popularity has rendered it unchanged with the same humble and striking beauty it has always had. Visiting the Rainbow Mountain is a must for travellers who like a challenge because this area is notoriously hard to find due to it being located deep in the mountain range. Even skilled hikers and highly experienced guides have reported difficulty locating it.

Not only are the candy-striped mountains of Vinicunca truly magical, so are its surrounding areas. Rainbow Mountain is not the only vibrant territory that blesses your eyes with unbelievable colour combinations, in fact, it is only one in a wondrous collection of beautifully hued peaks that you can find hidden within the Peruvian Andes. The Ausangate area is encircled by remote Andean communities, therapeutic hot springs, loveable herds of llamas and alpacas as well as spectacular views over glaciers.

Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain Gallery

DID YOU KNOW?

The Quyllur Rit'i (Quechua for "star snow") festival occurs every year near just about 20 km north of the Ausangate region. This festival attracts thousands and is celebrated on the mountain of Qullqipunku.

An Andean trek to Rainbow Mountain typically takes 6 days to complete.

The mountain has significance in Incan mythology. The mountain is considered holy by locals and believed to be the deity of Cusco. It is a site of daily worship and offerings.

Vinicunca (Rainbow Mountain) has an altitude of 5,200m (17,060 ft)

The extraordinary Ausangate Rainbow Mountain formed because of subduction, which according to the dictionary is “the process by which collision of the earth's crustal plates results in one plate's being drawn down or overridden by another”.

OUR Vinicunca rainbow mountain WILDTHENTIC EXPERIENCES

This thrilling two-day trek in the Vilcanota´s Cordillera is filled with adventure, culture, actions, and moments of awe. You will trek through the marvellous Andean landscape as we make our way to one of Cuzco’s most sacred mountains.

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